Scoring unit for golf practice range



Aug. 13, 1935. H. EVANS SCORING UNIT FOR GOLF PRACTICE RANGE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I nvento'r Attomey SCORING UNIT FOR GOLF PRACTICE RANGE Aug. 13, 1935-. H. L. EVANS 2,011,146

SCORING UNIT FOR GOLF PRACTICE RANGE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Patented Aug. 13, 1935 SCORING UNIT FOR, GOLF PRACTICE ,RANGE;

Harry L. Evans, Plainfield, N. Jj; assignor to Mary H i I S. Evans, FlainfielcL-N. J.

iterates January l'i, 1934, serial No. 707,024

2 Claims. oi. 273-32) JIhis invention relates to a scoring unit for a golf practice range.

In carrying" the principles of the present in;- ventive conception into actual practice, I have developed anassemblage of carefully selected and coordinatedf'eatures designed and allocated in a mannerto incite competitive pastime spirit and to promote friendly amusement typical of an m novationof this line of endeavor."

The apparatus is in a sense a game which requiresthe exercise of skill and judgment of advanced players and embodying such features of,

accommodation and adaptation as to make it aptly fitted i to accomplish the realistic results desired by the inventor.

Briefly stated, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified and'systematicarrangement of suitably designed and distinguishable ball receptive enclosures, and individual means for returning the trapped balls to the club-house or other desired place in order that the score may be effectively and satisfactorily tallied by'the attendant in charge.

Other featuresand advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings. i

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are" employed-to designate lik e parts throughout the Samei e Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view show mg the preferred arrangement or layout and ill'ust'rating the individualball returnmeans.

Figure 21s a side elevational view disclosing the specific construction of the-features a little closing certain features of the ball returnmeans.

Referring heme the drawings by distinguishing reference characters and considering Figure 1, it will be observed that the teeing ground, which may be of any appropriate dimension and character, is generally denoted by the numeral 6. Those familiar with public golf practice courses and driving rangesknow that it is customary in such fields to have a suitable fairway and at the point where the balls are teed up for driving, it is customary to have suitably divided individual ground areas for the players and participants. As a general proposition, there are markers in the outfield in the form of flags which indicate the directions and distances ofdrives, etc. Under certain conditions, a green is marked off or fenced in or a similar pen is utilized and located at a predetermined centralized point to test skill and accuracy of distance and drive. In the pres- 5 ent arrangement it is the idea to use threeball trapping enclosures located at different distances apart and these are in the form of inclined ball trapping enclosures differentiated by the letters A, B and C. ,Each target or enclosure is the same in construction, although the outlines are shaped to vary somewhat toaid in distinguishing them. They are supposed to occupy positions at predetermined distances fromthe teeing ground 6; Forexainple, the target A may be some two 13' hundred yards away and the target B two hundred and twenty-five yards and the target C two hundred and fifty yards. Furthermore, in accordance with my idea, when the target is hit and the ball trapped, it determines the value or score of the drive. That is to say, by making the target A, aplayer can count thistparticular stroke as par, while making the target B enables him to count the stroke as birdie, and finally if the shot is landed and trapped by the target C, this denotes an eagle. Moreover, there is an individual ball return from each of the targets leading back I Figure lcomprises a ball return pipe 1 leading from the green A. similar distinguishable pipes' 8 and 9 are operatively connected with the greens Band C respectively. All of these pipes dischargeinto a common ball return trough I0.

This trough IE3 is, however, divided into separate runways, differentiated at 1 8 and 9 and ob-' viously communicating with the companion ball return pipes l, 8 and 9.

The numeral H in the ball return means com- 49 prises an endless inclined conveyor. This is of suitable construction and the endless belt thereof is operated through the instrumentality of an electric motor or suitable source of power l2. The belt is also divided so as to separate the balls and to feed them into the ball discharge trough l3. Thus the balls from'the pipes I, 8 and 9 are emptied first into the inlet or intake trough I!) and then carried up the inclined conveyor II and discharged into the exit or discharge trough 50 Hi. In practice, this trough I3 obviously leads back to a point at which the returning balls may be effectively checked and the score satisfactorily tallied.

Referring again to Figure 1, it is to be stated sir that the numeral M'designates the green proper and the numeral i5 designates the sand trap. The green is enclosed with a fence Iii and provided with a marking flag or indicator l1. Thus if a ball strikes the green it is trapped. This idea of a distant marked green of a predetermined value with a fence around it and a sand trap, is believed to beum'que, particularly when taken in conjunction with the individual easy calculating ball return 'means'.

As before stated, each one of the greens or tar.-. gets A, B and C is the same in construction so far as mechanical details are concerned. Therefore,

the description of one will suffice for all. Referring to Figure 3, for example, it will be ob served that the numeral l8 designates a suitable stand having supporting legs i9, 20 and 2! of graduated height so as to inclinethe frame 22 carried by said legs. The frame may be of any appropriate configuration and dimension. The

green is preferably constructed of canvas or appropriate textile material 23, as shown in Figure 4, and provided around'its margin with eyelets 24 towhi'ch spr'ings'25' are connected. The springs 25 arein turn'attached to rings 26 surrounding automatic. gravitation of the 'ball' into the return pipe'to facilitate subsequent retrieving thereof.

Strip's29 of canvas jor'theflike slope downwardly and outwardly; from'the' front and'sides of ,the frame to the igroundiand. the sand extends outwardlyrfrom'the lower edges of these strips.

These strips prevent balls from passingunder; the frames and direct'the'balls striking theminto the sand'traps; i

. M 5 9 re Ordinary play will consist of 18 holes; 36 or 72 hole play being reserved for teams in tournament competition.

Each balldriven will represent one hole played, All scores will-;befigured as Medal play-(strokes) Par score foreighteenhcles will"be--'Z2, each of the fthree greens ,carrying its, respective. value,

that is, A,'gre.en will-be Par-14 'B ,green will be Birdie 3 and C-green will be ,Eagle2: A ball not scoring? either of the three greens will be 'countedone over'par; or 5. A practice range carrying twenty'dri'ving tees will have the balls'numbered from-oneto twentye These will be given out for play in sets of 18, each ball carrying the same number.

At no time must two players be allowed to play two sets of balls bearing the same number.

This is to avoid two or more players claiming the same score. Individual score tables, with ball tray will be placed at each tee-so that the player can keep a. tally of his score, hole, for hole.

It is understood, .of course, that the rules and regulations of play may be varied as'conditions demand.

In interpreting the claims,.it is believed that the soecalled greens A, B and C may be also defined as marked graduated ball trapping targets in the sense that the players shoot at the desired target and in that each, target is systematically located with respect to the other with the highest scoring target closest to the ball driving tee.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with'the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary. 1 Minor changes in shape, size, and re,-arrangement'of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice,

if desired.

I-Iaving thus. described my invention, what I claim as newis:

"1'. A golf field having a teeing ground at one end thereof, a plurality .of' ball trapping targets located'on the field at different driving distances from the teeing ground, each target including an elevated frame, having its top portion sloping downwardly and towardtheteeing ground, a

flexible sheet, means 'yieldably connecting the marginal portions of the sheet. with saidtop portion of the framerfor holding" the sheetin stretchedjcondition within the;frame; an. upright v fence surrounding thesheetand supported'from theupperjportion of the frame, means for leading the balls from the';lo wer part-pf the sheetto the teeing ground, 'anoutwardly anddownwardly sloping sheet-having, itsqupper; edge connected to the front and side portions; of the -frame;with its lower. edge :contacjting; the ground, and a sand trap extending outwardly fromtheloweredge of the lastmentioned sheet, saidtargets 'being of difierent shapes,"

. 2. A target for a golf field comprising an inclined openwork frame, supporting legs therefor, a flexible sheet, means yieldably connecting the ,rnarginal portions of thesheet with theframe for holding the sheet in stretched condition in the frame' a'ngupright fence -surreundingfthe sheet andsupported from the frame, an outwardly and downwardly sloping sheet having'its upper edge connected to the'front and side-portions of the frame with its lower 'edgecontacting the ground, and a sand trap extending outwardly from-the lower edge of the last mentioned sheet.

HARRY L; EVANS. 

